Fable III Preview

Lionhead Studios’ soon-to-be-released Fable sequel has been treated to another hands-on preview, and this time around it comes to us via D+PAD. It doesn’t sound like their impressions were entirely favorable:

We only attempted a couple of jobs in the town in which we were placed, hoping for a more entertaining affair than the non-descript button-stopping events of before. What we found were button-pressing mini-games; they were dull, uninspired and thoroughly disappointing. You can mingle with the townsfolk with a variety of actions and expressions like before, complete with cute animations and AI reactions. Some of the more vulgar options should amuse for a while, though given our experience with the game’s predecessor, we expect this to lose its appeal over time.

Presentation is one of Fable 3’s strongest points. The world of Albion is undeniably darker than before, but it’s beautiful all the same. The graphics are a major step up, with that patented fantasy style serving to help set the tone. Environments are lush and detailed and it’s all too easy to go off the beaten path to find any number of the secrets that lay hidden within the land. You can expect to lose many hours just wandering around with your trusty mutt to find that extra item to add to your collection, taking in the sights before deciding to move on to your next mission. The music is every bit as stirring as before, ranging from the subdued calm that punctuates the more welcoming locales to the ominous and creepy score of a tense situation.